Four students have received $15,000 in scholarships to help fund their environmental passions.

Osei Agyapong, Imogen Peckett, Logan Soares and Naphisa Smith were all awarded grants from the Bermuda Zoological Society’s annual Steinhoff Programme.

The programme, created by Robert Steinhoff, the president of BZS in 2009, helps youngsters complete the final two years of their Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s or Doctorate programme.

Mr Steinhoff said: “We had excellent applicants for the scholarship again this year with strong academic achievements and full of passion for our environment.

“We wish the scholarship recipients success in their future studies and invite them to make their mark on protecting Bermuda’s environment in the future.”

Mr Agyapong will be starting his Master’s degree in environment social governance at Durham University in the UK.

He said that he hoped to use the degree to tackle the problem of climate change from the public and private sectors.

Mr Agyapong said: “I would like to thank all those who have decided to invest in me.

“By choosing me it shows that you have faith in me and would like to support my studies and career goals. The confidence that this gives me is invaluable.”

Ms Peckett, who is starting the third year of her Bachelor of Science at Cardiff University in the UK, will go into the coming year starting her placements in the field of environment geography.

She said that she will do two three-month placements with the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation in Greece, as well as a two-month placement with the Royal Geographical Society in London during the winter months.

Ms Peckett said: “Receiving this scholarship is an honour and I was thrilled to learn of my selection.

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Scholarship Committee for making the Steinhoff Scholarship possible for students in environmental sciences, and I am deeply appreciative for your support in my academic endeavours.

“The Steinhoff Scholarship will enable me to pursue my passion, extend my education and enhance my career prospects.”

Ms Soares is working on an integrated Master’s degree in marine biology at the University of Southampton with the hope of getting a PhD.

She credited the BZS for fuelling her interest in the environment and said that her time working with scientists with the group had given her crucial knowledge.

Ms Soares added: “This financial support will assist me in my education and future aspirations, and I am grateful for the BZS Steinhoff Scholarship Committee for granting me this award.”

Ms Smith thanked the Scholarship Committee for selecting her, adding that the bursary will help her in her final year studying environmental science at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

She said: “I am honoured, and it will motivate me to work even harder for my last year.”

Colin Brown, the president of BZS, congratulated those who won the bursary, adding that the committee was “extremely impressed” by those who applied.

He added: “The Bermuda Zoological Society is grateful to Mr. Robert Steinhoff and his family for their continued support.

“Without them this scholarship would not exist, nor the opportunity to assist scholars who are dedicating their postsecondary education to environmental causes.”